Cancers can be inherited from either the mother’s or father’s side of the family. Certain types of cancer are more common in specific ethnic backgrounds, especially Ashkenazi Jewish descent with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer.

Based on your family history of cancers (specifically breast, ovarian, endometrial/uterine and colon cancer) you may be in need of diagnostic test that will determine your risk for hereditary cancer syndromes. This test result may better direct medical management decisions to reduce your cancer risk.

The Women’s Group of Northwestern offers Myriad myRisk™ Hereditary Cancer is a 25-gene panel that identifies an elevated risk for seven important female cancers, including breast, ovarian, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, melanoma and endometrial. This test will better allow your provider to personalize your medical management and help us to make important decisions together to reduce your cancer risk.

If you think you may be at risk, you may complete an online quiz customized for The Women’s Group of Northwestern

Approximately 5% to 10% of all cancers develop because a person inherits a gene that is broken (mutated) in a way that allows cancer to grow. Individuals with these broken genes are far more likely to develop cancer, often at a much earlier age, than the general population. That’s why being tested with myRisk is so important.

Blends genetic information with personal and family history

This is the only hereditary cancer test that provides information about your risk and management based on both your personal/ family cancer history and your genetic results.

The experts at Myriad, who have tested more than one million patients over 15 years, have the knowledge and experience to bring genetic results and personal and family cancer history together into one fully integrated, personalized report.

Your Report

Regardless of the results, you and your healthcare provider will benefit from the knowledge and insight the test provides. Knowing whether you are positive (you have a broken gene) or negative (you do not) enables you and your healthcare provider to create a personal health management plan.

If Your Result is Negative

It is not uncommon for cancer to “run in the family” when there is no genetic evidence of hereditary cancer. If this is the case for you, you might still have a higher risk than the general population. Your healthcare provider may want you to have screening tests more often so you can be monitored more closely. It is also important that you share your test status with your family so that they can follow up with their own healthcare providers to determine their risk.

If Your Result is Positive

If your result is positive, there are many ways to manage your cancer risk. Understanding the information in your report is the first step. The report your healthcare provider receives will include information about the broken gene itself and your personal and family cancer history, both of which may increase the risk for specific cancers. The myRisk™ test report will also give your healthcare provider management recommendations based on medical societies’ guidelines. Knowing what you are dealing with makes management plans more focused.